Rib Injury
 

Last month, I developed a wicked cough. It turned into bronchitis and became a WICKED cough. On October 3 (not that I'm counting), I noticed a slight pain in my rib when I coughed. A little while later, I had a major coughing fit and felt a pop(!) in my rib area. The pain was incredible. It progressively got worse; to the point where talking and even breathing was agony.

ANYway, I went to the doctor (wth no insurance-you KNOW I was desparate) and as it turns out, I didn't break my rib, but rather bruised it when the cartiledge separated from the rib (Costochondral Separation). They gave me a shot of demerol with phenegran and a prescription for painkillers, antibiotic (for the damn cough) and cough syrup.

The first two weeks were really intense, but now (day 24)- I am still in major (though not unbearable) pain. :distress:

The internet searches I've done indicate this could take 6-12 weeks to heal. Calling to doctor to find out when I can expect this to heal is like trying to get through to the president.

Has anyone experienced a rib injury like this? Anyone in the medical profession (Curtis)?? I'm DYING over here.

Is it painful when you cough or when you breath in general?

Try to brace it with a pillow when you cough and bend over and stuff like that.....

My goodness. I'm not a medical professional but I'm sure someone on here can offer some words of wisdom soon. Were you not offered painkillers of any kind?
Take Care!:wavey:

Oh god yes. Initially, the only way I COULD cough was if I braced myself against the wall with a pillow.

Ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:( :( :(

Yes, but the problem with me and painkillers is that I can only take them with phenegran, which makes me sleepy. So I was only able to take them at night. I am getting better, I'm just wonderig how long it will take to fully heal. The internet sites are conflicting.

Thank you for your well wishes!!!

If you are nauseated with your pain meds, they should have been switched to something that doesn't give you GI upset.

I switched to Darvocet which stopped the nausea, but obviously isn't quite as effective. I'm out though, I need to gt a refill.

Just out of curiousity, what does Darvocet run without medical insurance?

I think it was relatively cheap- under $20. I was spending so much money all at once, I don't really remember. Just looked in my checkbook, it was $18.

I'm really sorry to hear about this, you must be in so much pain.

I fell head over heels down a flight of stairs a year ago and got pretty banged up - off work for a couple of weeks, part time for another two.I absolutely HAD to take painkillers to make it through a work day. Here's your plan:

Take nothing in the morning until around noon (so you can get stuff done with a clear head) and the pop a painkiller so you're only high for HALF of the day (percocet is my personal fave). By the time you get home, your ready for sleep.

This is all of course assuming that you can't take time off, because if it is remotely possible, do it. Your body needs time to heal.

Feel better soon!!!:wavey:

Aww im so sorry this happened to you. Sounds so painful. I really feel bad!

Take care! :xoxo:

Jannie, this sounds so painful. So sorry. I ahve no advice - I just cringed reading your post. Hope you feel better soon.

I get bronchitis twice a year like clockwork and over the last ten years have bruised my ribs three times, and cracked one, from coughing. I hate to tell you, but each time it has taken about 4 months for the pain to fully go away.:sorry: Wrapping your torso tightly helps some, but it's hard to do that for months. My doctor told me ribs are one of the slowest areas to heal because it's nearly impossible to not use that part of your body unless you're bedridden. And he didn't want to prescribe painkillers for that amount of time. So I was stuck with Tylenol.

Wow! That sucks. Get well soon!
I've been coughing for two weeks now, hurrah, but not THAT bad:shocked:
Doesn't help much with your ribs, but I can give you a pretty decent homemade anti cough remedy that helped me get through the night:
two tablespoons of brown sugar, dissolve it in a glas of water, add one finely chopped onion and leave for at least an hour. Then take sips each time you feel a cough coming up. Apparently the onion numbs your throat. I didn't have much faith in it but it really works.

OUch I feel for you,try to rest as much as you can...Hubby was involved in a major accident and all his ribs were broken. It took a long time to heal..

my aunt has had this happen to her a couple of times, and it does take a long time to heal. she had to wear a brace of some sort, as i recall (like the ones they wear at Sam's club)..since i'm all into the witchy-poo stuff, you could try rubbing the area with Lavendar massage oil to help promote blood flow and healing...i wouldn't use straight Lavendar oil b/c it could irritate your skin...I hope you feel better soon!

I really feel bad for you. I hate to hear of another Ledgie in pain. :(

I don't have any advice, but I can offer sympathy.

http://www.websmileys.com/sm/fam/fam25.gif

This is what I've been afraid of. My doctor would probably continue prescribing me painkillers, but I just don't want to get into that long-term. I know that the biggest problem for me with healing is the fact that I am still coughing (in the morning and late at night) and so I just keep aggravating it.

I can't quote each person because I'm on dial-up at work and it would take me an hour to do so, but I just want to say thank you so much for all the responses and well wishes. You guys are awesome. :xoxo:

That sounds horrible! I've had many injuries over the years from playing soccer and unfortunately, I'd rather break a bone than suffer any sort of injury having to do with cartlidge or ligaments. I'm sorry to say, but injuries like that take months and months to heal.

I don't take pain killers because they make me extremely ill. However, when I did take pain killers they did not work as well as just taking about 800mg of ibuprofin (prescribed) twice a day. That's what I would do because it reduces inflamation and promotes healing. I would also submerge myself in a hot hot tub of water (obviously not scorching) everyday. This will promote the healing as well. Good luck and hope you feel better soon!

What makes this place so great is times like this when someone can come and ask for help or advice, and can get it.:thumbsup: